Sermorelin vs ipamorelin
Clinical reviewer: Jacob Moore, MD · Last checked September 22, 2026
Sermorelin vs ipamorelin, what's the difference?
Sermorelin vs ipamorelin is a choice between two peptides that both raise growth hormone but act on different receptors and carry different FDA histories. Sermorelin was once FDA-approved as Geref before its approvals were withdrawn in 2009; ipamorelin has never been FDA-approved and remains on FDA's active 503B Category 2 list. Neither is an FDA-approved drug today.
How do sermorelin and ipamorelin differ?
Both are injected peptides that raise growth hormone, but they differ in structure, receptor and regulatory history [1][2][3][4].
| Sermorelin | Ipamorelin | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | GHRH analog [4] | GH secretagogue, GHSR-1a agonist [4] |
| Structure | GHRH 1-29, the first 29 amino acids [4] | Short synthetic peptide [4] |
| Approved product | Geref, approvals withdrawn June 18, 2009 [1] | None |
| FDA compounding status | No Category 2 listing [2] | 503A nomination withdrawn; 503B Category 2 active [2] |
| WADA 2026 | Prohibited at all times [3] | Prohibited at all times [3] |
Is either legal to compound today?
Neither is FDA-approved today. Sermorelin's last approved products, the Geref injections, were "not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness" when their approvals ended in 2009 [1], and sermorelin has no Category 2 listing [2]. Ipamorelin's 503A nomination was withdrawn, while a separate 503B Category 2 entry, which cites "serious adverse events including death when ipamorelin was administered intravenously," remains active as of April 22, 2026 [2].
Does the online CJC-1295-plus-ipamorelin stacking claim hold up?
A 2026 review notes that "in off-label fitness discourse, ipamorelin is also frequently discussed in combination with CJC-1295," and describes such stacking narratives as grey literature, with users combining compounds "of uncertain identity and purity" over time-frames that "substantially exceed the duration of available trials" [4]. No clinical trial of that combination was found in our search as of September 2026.
Related terms
Sources
- Federal Register — Determination That GEREF (Sermorelin Acetate) Was Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness, March 4, 2013
- FDA — Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (Category 2), current as of April 22, 2026
- WADA 2026 Prohibited List, effective January 1, 2026
- Dominikowski A et al. The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis, bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration. Front Endocrinol, 2026.
This entry is for education and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
